Have practice ‘power cuts’ and ‘emergencies’, to get used to using your gear, and, so that family members know what to expect and aren’t worried.

When you’ve spent time and effort preparing for emergencies, it’s a good idea to be confident how to use what you’ve prepared.

Such dry runs can be made into fun family activities. For children and teens (yes, for all their bravery, even older teens will be hiding genuine anxiety in a real emergency) the practice is all about them having a taste of what to expect so they are not worried if the ‘real thing’ happens, so they can feel confident that the preparations the family has made really will mean they are secure. Even kids need peace of mind and they will look to you to provide it.

For the grown-ups involved it’s a good time to make sure all the gathered supplies are suitable, and all the equipment is in working order. In practice runs you will also learn about things you ‘wished you had’ in your emergency preparations, giving you the opportunity to get those things organised before a real emergency makes it impossible.

It can be as simple as simulating a power cut, or as adventurous as practicing an emergency evacuation to a relative’s home, or ‘bug out’ location, you previously planned for. For a practice run it’s a good idea to let family members know in advance so everyone is engaged in the process, and not be resentful. You’ll still learn a lot from the experience, and be more prepared for when a real emergency happens.